Disease Risk Analysis Research Articles

Spatial disparities in cancer incidence and mortality, indicating gaps in prevention and/or care

Abstract Background There is a rich literature on the distribution of cancer incidence and mortality in socioeconomically different regions of the world, but none of the studies has compared the spatial distribution of mortality and morbidity to see if they are consistent with each other. Methods All malignant neoplasms and separately by cervical, colorectal, breast, pancreatic, lung and oral cancers were studied in the Hungarian population aged 25-64 years for the period 2007-2018 at the municipality level by sex. In each case, the spatial distribution of morbidity and mortality and their clusters were compared with each other and with the level of deprivation using disease mapping, spatial regression, risk analysis and spatial scan statistics. Results All-cause cancer morbidity and mortality showed a significant association with deprivation. However, the slope of the increase in mortality with increasing deprivation was much steeper than for morbidity in both sexes. The association between deprivation and morbidity was not consistent across all cancers. No significant association was found for male colorectal cancer (RR: 1.003; 95%CI 0.986-1.019), pancreatic cancer (1.014; 95%CI 0.983-1.045) and female colorectal cancer morbidity (RR: 0.977; 95%CI 0.991-1.029), whereas a negative association was found for breast cancer morbidity (RR: 0.977; 95%CI 0.963-0.991). In contrast, a positive association between deprivation and mortality was found for each type of cancer, although with different RRs. However, disease mapping analyses showed only partial overlap between high-risk morbidity and mortality areas, often independent of deprivation. Conclusions Our results highlight not only the diverse relationship between the epidemiological situation and deprivation, but also the disproportionate relationship between cancer morbidity and mortality, thus identifying geographical regions and sub-regions with populations that require special public health attention. Key messages • Comparative spatial analysis of cancer morbidity and mortality at the municipality level is strongly recommended to identify populations in need of targeted cancer prevention and/or care. • The usefulness of comparative spatial analysis of cancer morbidity and mortality is demonstrated in Hungary, one of the countries with the most unfavourable cancer burden in international comparison.

Discrepancies between the Spatial Distribution of Cancer Incidence and Mortality as an Indicator of Unmet Needs in Cancer Prevention and/or Treatment in Hungary.

There is a rich body of literature on the distribution of cancer incidence and mortality in socioeconomically different world regions, but none of the studies has compared the spatial distribution of mortality and incidence to see if they are consistent with each other. All malignant neoplasms combined and cervical, colorectal, breast, pancreatic, lung, and oral cancers separately were studied in the Hungarian population aged 25-64 years for 2007-2018 at the municipality level by sex. In each case, the spatial distribution of incidence and mortality were compared with each other and with the level of deprivation using disease mapping, spatial regression, risk analysis, and spatial scan statistics. A positive association between deprivation and mortality was found for each type of cancer, but there was no significant association for male colorectal cancer (relative risk (RR) 1.00; 95% credible interval (CI) 0.99-1.02), pancreatic cancer (RR: 1.01; 95%CI 0.98-1.04), and female colorectal cancer incidence (RR: 1.01; 95%CI 0.99-1.03), whereas a negative association for breast cancer (RR: 0.98; 95%CI 0.96-0.99) was found. Disease mapping analyses showed only partial overlap between areas of high incidence and mortality, often independent of deprivation. Our results highlight not only the diverse relationship between cancer burden and deprivation, but also the inconsistent relationship between cancer incidence and mortality, pointing to areas with populations that require special public health attention.

언론에서 나타난 한국 사회의 미래 질병 위험 이슈 분석: 토픽 모델링 분석을 중심으로

언론에서 나타난 한국 사회의 미래 질병 위험 이슈 분석: 토픽 모델링 분석을 중심으로

Applying a modified streamlined disease risk analysis framework to a platypus conservation translocation, with special consideration for the conservation of ecto- and endoparasites

Platypuses are the world's most evolutionarily distinct mammal and have several host-specific ecto- and endoparasites. With platypus populations declining, consideration should also be given to preserving these high conservation priority parasites alongside their charismatic host. A disease risk analysis (DRA) was performed for a platypus conservation translocation, using a modified streamlined methodology that incorporated a parasite conservation framework. DRA frameworks rarely consider parasite conservation. Rather, parasites are typically considered myopically in terms of the potential harm they may cause their host. To address this, a previously proposed parasite conservation framework was incorporated into an existing streamlined DRA methodology. Incorporation of the two frameworks was achieved readily, although there is opportunity for further refinement of this process. This DRA is significant as it is the first performed for any monotreme species, and implements the emerging approach of balancing the health and disease risk of the host with parasite conservation.

High-quality fruit and vegetable characterized by cardiometabolic biomarkers and its relation to major chronic disease risk: results from 3 prospective United States cohort studies

BackgroundThe current guidelines recommend a specified total serving of fruits and vegetables (FV). However, how differences in their nutritional quality of specific FV influence overall health remains unclear. ObjectivesTo identify high-quality FV using 14 cardiometabolic biomarkers, and assess their consumption, alongside overall FV intake, with chronic disease risk. MethodsWe used data from 3 prospective cohorts, Health Professionals Follow-up Study, Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), and NHSII. Diet was assessed at baseline and updated every 4 y. Biomarker analysis was conducted on 41,714 participants using generalized linear models. Metabolic quality was ascertained by each FV’s association with biomarkers. Major chronic disease risk analysis involved 207,241 participants followed for 32 y with Cox proportional hazards models. We also analyzed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as secondary outcomes. ResultsOf 52 FV items, 19 were identified as high-metabolic quality (top 5: apples/pears, iceberg/head lettuce, raw spinach, alfalfa sprouts, and eggplant/summer squash). In disease risk analysis, 60,712 major chronic disease events were recorded. A higher proportion of high-metabolic quality FV intake was associated with lower chronic disease risk across total FV quantity levels. In each quantity level stratum (quartiles Q1–Q4), comparing the highest to the lowest quality proportion quartiles, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) were 0.85 (0.81–0.90), 0.86 (0.82–0.90), 0.84 (0.80–0.89), and 0.89 (0.84–0.94), all P-trend < 0.001. Patterns were similar for ASCVD, T2D, and COPD but less consistent for cancer. High total FV intake, if consisting mostly of neutral or low-metabolic quality items, was not associated with lower chronic disease risk. For diabetes specifically, these were associated with significantly higher risk [quantity-Q3, HR: 1.13 (1.05, 1.22); quantity-Q4, HR: 1.17 (1.07, 1.28)]. ConclusionsOur findings indicate the importance of considering both quality and quantity of FV for health, and support dietary guidelines to emphasize high-metabolic quality FV consumption alongside overall intake.

Risk of rabies reintroduction into the European Union as a result of the Russo-Ukrainian war: A quantitative disease risk analysis.

The importation of rabid animals poses a continual threat to rabies freedom in the European Union (EU). Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Commission eased the rules on companion animal importations for Ukrainian refugees through derogations to the EU Pet Travel Scheme (EU PETS). As Ukraine remains endemic for canine rabies, this paper aimed to quantitatively assess whether the change in regulations affected the risk of rabies introduction to the EU. Transmission pathways for both EU PETS and derogations to this scheme were considered, as well as the scenarios of 100% compliance and reduced compliance within both schemes. Stochastic modelling was performed via a Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the median and 95% confidence intervals of the annual risk of rabies entry and the years between rabies entries into the EU. Following 100% compliance, the derogation scheme posed a significantly lower risk at a value of 3.63 × 10-3 (CI 95% 1.18 × 10-3-9.34 × 10-3) rabies entries per year in comparison to EU PETS where the risk was 4.25 × 10-2 (CI 95% 1.44 × 10-2-9.81 × 10-2). Despite a significantly lower risk as compared to EU PETS under 100% compliance, the derogation scheme was more sensitive to a reduction in compliance which resulted in a 74-fold increase in risk. Given this, even under reduced compliance, the annual risk remained lower under the derogation scheme, although this was not statistically significant. The findings of this study suggest that a 4-month period of quarantine, as modelled for the derogation scenario, could reduce the annual risk of rabies entry. This scheme may present a viable solution for the management of companion animal influxes in future crises.

Juridical Analysis of the Authority of Quarantine Officials in Handling Illegal Cattle Importation on Batam Island

The government has established regulations related to the entry of cattle or the movement of animal carrier media between domestic entry or domestic exit areas, namely Law Number 21 of 2019 concerning Quarantine of Animals, Fish and Plants. This regulation is intended to prevent the entry and spread of HPHK, HPIK, and OPTK from one area to another within the territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, but the reality in the field is that there are still violations of cattle entry into Batam Island not in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. This study aims to determine how the implementation of the authority of quarantine officials in handling illegal cattle importation in Batam Island. This research uses qualitative research. Normative legal research method supported by sociological legal research, this research requires primary, secondary and tertiary legal materials. The obstacles faced in the implementation of quarantine are caused by less than optimal supervision, lack of public understanding of the Quarantine Law, economic factors where to fulfill the quarantine requirement documents require costs which according to them are not small, regulations and the time required in processing other required documents there is no certainty of time. The solution in dealing with these obstacles is to strengthen quarantine carried out on all sides in synergy with other related agencies, community participation who actively comply with the law and care about the importance of efforts to prevent the entry and spread of HPHK. Regular training and knowledge updates to ensure that quarantine officials are always ready to deal with various possible threats that arise. The results of the study show the implementation of the authority of quarantine officials in carrying out quarantine measures against carrier media, especially animals based on applicable laws and regulations by taking into account disease status and risk analysis in order to keep livestock healthy and food safety, ensuring the health of meat to be consumed by the public. In certain conditions there are still violations that occur with various factors. The community and government agencies and law enforcement can coordinate and supervise the movement of carrier media, especially animal traffic so as to maintain the transmission and spread of disease in animals that have an impact on health and food safety for the community.

Evaluation of implants in smoking and non-smoking patients with peri-implant disease risk analysis and esthetic scores: an observational study

BackgroundThis study examined how smoking affects esthetics, peri-implant health, gingiva around the implant, and implant disease risk assessment in patients with implants.MethodsThe study included two hundred ninety-eight implants of systemically healthy patients aged between 38 and 62 who applied to the Periodontology Clinic and whose functionally prosthesis-loaded implants had been at least six months and at most five years old. Implants of patients with bruxism were not included in the study. Implants are divided into two according to the patient’s smoking. Vestibule depth around the implant, keratinized gingival thickness and width, gingival recession, bleeding on probing, pocket depth, and gingival index by a sole clinician. The pink esthetic score, peri-implant disease risk assessment, and implant health scale were also examined to measure implant esthetics and success.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in the implant disease risk assesment scores for the examined implants of smokers and nonsmokers (p < 0.05). People who had peri-implantitis had higher implant disease risk assesment score levels. The dental implant health scale revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the likelihood of implant disease. According to the dental implant health scale, dental implants were 100% successful for non-smokers. There was a significant difference in the keratinized gingiva width between smokers and nonsmokers (p < 0.05). The results of the study showed that nonsmokers had a wider keratinized gingiva.ConclusionsResearch has demonstrated that the act of smoking has the potential to jeopardize the long-term survival of dental implants and the surrounding peri-implant tissues. The results of this study indicate that it would be advisable for dentists to provide guidance to their patients on smoking cessation and to monitor any alterations in behavior closely. Furthermore, it would be advantageous for dental professionals to elucidate the impact of smoking on the susceptibility of smokers to peri-implant disease.

Assessing Disease Risks in Wildlife Translocation Projects: A Comprehensive Review of Disease Incidents.

Although translocation projects have been instrumental in the supplementation or restoration of some wild populations, they also carry a large risk of disease transmission to native and translocated animals. This study systematically reviewed conservation translocation projects to identify projects that met the criteria for a translocation significant disease incursion (TSDI), whereby the translocation resulted in negative population growth rates or the failure of populations to grow due to an infectious disease-either in the native or translocated species. In doing so, risk factors for these incidents could be identified. Analysis of the resulting 30 TSDIs demonstrated that there was equal representation of TSDIs using wild-caught and captive-bred animals. Additionally, the type of pathogen predisposed in a TSDI was more likely a result of the animal group translocated (e.g., fungal pathogens were more likely to be detected in amphibian translocations) and it was nearly five times more likely for a disease to be encountered by a translocated species than for a disease to be introduced to a native population. However, there are numerous project-specific predisposing factors for TSDIs, and therefore it is essential that future translocation projects conduct thorough disease risk analysis as well as report their outcomes for the benefit of their own and future translocations.

Epidemiology of a Hybrid Swarm: Evidence of 11 Feline Infectious Agents Circulating in a Population of Sympatric European Wildcat Hybrids and Free-Living Domestic Cats, in Scotland

Hybridisation between wild and domestic species poses a serious challenge to conservation management and can, potentially, lead to extinction. Alongside it, disease transmission will inevitably occur. However, the link between these two phenomena has historically been neglected. In Scotland, the European wildcat is particularly threatened by hybridisation with the domestic cat, a process promoted by long-term habitat loss, human encroachment, and persecution. Between 2015 and 2019, free-living cats (n = 120) were captured in six conservation priority areas of northern Scotland. Samples were collected for infectious disease screening (feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukaemia virus, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus, Chlamydia felis, Mycoplasma felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis, and Tritrichomonas foetus) and genetic analysis. Polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcriptionPCR were used to detect infectious DNA or RNA, respectively. The hybrid score (Q) for each individual cat was determined using a 35-SNP-marker test. Statistical analysis investigated the association between Q and probability of infection, accounting for spatial clustering. The results confirmed the presence of 11 infectious agents circulating in the free-living cat population of northern Scotland, which consists of a hybrid swarm between F. silvestris and F. catus. For eight of them (feline leukaemia virus, feline herpesvirus C. felis, B. bronchiseptica, M. felis, M. haemofelis, Ca. M. haemominutum, and T. foetus), there was no significant association between infection probability and Q, supporting our hypothesis that the hybrid swarm may be functioning as a single epidemiological unit. Considering the impact of infectious diseases on health, welfare, and population dynamics of domestic cats, their presence in the extremely fragile and hybridised population of F. silvestris in Scotland could be population limiting or, potentially, contribute to local extinction. Comprehensive disease surveillance, risk analysis, and domestic cat management will be essential for the European wildcat conservation, particularly where hybridisation is increasing and anthropogenic factors are prevalent.

Three-Dimensional Disease Outbreak Surveillance System in a Tertiary Hospital in Singapore: A Proof of Concept

ObjectiveTo develop an electronic surveillance system that provides prompt in-depth situational infectious disease risk and linkage analysis for inpatients in a tertiary hospital. Patients and MethodsAll patients admitted to Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a 1900-bedded tertiary care hospital, are included in routine surveillance. The 3-Dimensional Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (3D-DOSS) was developed to spatiotemporally represent inpatient surveillance data on a “digital twin” of SGH and evaluated for performance in surveillance, contact tracing, and outbreak investigations. This study was conducted over a 12 month period (October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021). ResultsThe 3D-DOSS surveillance module identified an influenza cluster of 10 inpatients in November 2018, mapping retrospective data between September 2018 and December 2018. Seventy-six clusters of 2 or more linked patients with health care–associated Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase–type carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae were detected in SGH in 2 years (2018 and 2019). The 3D-DOSS contact tracing module promptly identified 44 primary and 162 secondary inpatient contacts, after exposure to a health care worker with coronavirus disease 2019 in April 2021. For outbreak mapping, 24 patients with OXA-48 were mapped on October 22, 2020, using 3D-DOSS to determine their spatiotemporal distribution. ConclusionThe integration of health care data and representation on a virtual hospital digital twin is a useful tool in an outbreak alert and response framework. Infectious disease surveillance systems, which are syndrome-based, that can access real-time data, and can incorporate movement networks, can potentially enhance health care–associated infection prevention and preparedness for disease X.

Practical application of disease risk analysis for reintroducing gray wolves (Canis lupus) to Isle Royale National Park, USA

AbstractEvaluation of disease risks associated with wildlife translocations is important for minimizing unintended harm and achieving conservation goals. A framework for disease risk analysis (DRA) has been developed by the World Organization for Animal Health and International Union for Conservation of Nature, but applications for planning and implementation in wildlife conservation projects are limited. To fill this gap, we describe a DRA we conducted to identify, assess, and mitigate disease risks associated with reintroduction of gray wolves (Canis lupus) to Isle Royale National Park (IRNP). A total of 19 wolves were translocated from multiple locations within the Great Lakes Region to IRNP between September 2018 and September 2019. Integration of the DRA into project planning and use of diverse expertise among project personnel enabled a timely and cost‐effective process that facilitated multidisciplinary and cross‐cultural collaboration, transparent communication about risks and uncertainties, and practical management of disease risks for wildlife and personnel. Engaging disease experts and experienced field biologists in the assessment also helped to identify and account for potential sources of bias. We hope practical examples like this encourage wider adoption of DRA principles in translocations of wildlife for conservation purposes.

A pharmacogenetic study in HIV-infected patients treated with ritonavir: hematological and cardiovascular disease risk analysis

article: A pharmacogenetic study in HIV-infected patients treated with ritonavir: hematological and cardiovascular disease risk analysis - Minerva Biotechnology and Biomolecular Research 2021 December;33(4):204-9 - Minerva Medica - Journals

Novel NGS-Based Estimation of Kringle-IV-2 Repeats of LPA Gene Improves Genetic Identification of Elevated Lp(a) Levels

<h3>Lead Author's Financial Disclosures</h3> M.R. is an employee of GB Healthwatch. <h3>Study Funding</h3> None. <h3>Background/Synopsis</h3> Lp(a) levels are genetically determined. Short isoforms within the variable Kringle-IV, type 2 (KIV-2) region of the LPA gene (that encodes for the apolipoprotein(a), apo(a) protein) is the single greatest genetic determinant of high Lp(a). Methods to directly assess this polymorphism may have clinical utility but is expensive and difficult to scale. Previous reporting indicates that 20-50% of people with short apo(a) isoforms do not have a corresponding tagging single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). As next-generation sequencing (NGS) has become the standard platform for analyzing pathogenic variants causal of monogenic diseases and polygenic risk scores in cardiometabolic disease risk analysis, it would be advantageous to assess genetic risk for elevated Lp(a) within the same NGS-based test. We developed an NGS method to quantify KIV-2 repeats. <h3>Objective/Purpose</h3> To validate this metric for estimating KIV-2 repeat length (referred to as GB-KIV-2) directly from sequencing reads. <h3>Methods</h3> We performed NGS analysis on 97 patients with known Lp(a) levels from 2 academic clinics based in the United States. <h3>Results</h3> Random forest regression analysis of known SNPs that influence Lp(a) along with the GB-KIV-2 repeat metric indicate that the latter is the most important predictor of Lp(a) levels in this cohort (figure 1). We show a stepwise, inverse, linear relationship between the GB-KIV-2 metric and Lp(a) levels, Pearson correlation coefficient, r=-0.59, p-value: 2.0e-10. We compared the GB-KIV-2 with the gold standard immunoblotting method for isoform size and report a correlation coefficient, r=0.63, p-value =3.3e-4 The validation results show that GBinsight's NGS-based prediction for elevated Lp(a) has a sensitivity=82%, specificity=87% and accuracy=84%. <h3>Conclusions</h3> We conclude that inclusion of the GB-KIV-2 metric increases detection of the genetic causes of high Lp(a) while not increasing false positive rates. High Lp(a) may phenocopy familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Genetic sequencing for FH confirmation and cascade screening is increasingly performed clinically. Including Lp(a) genetic screening may support differential diagnoses. FH). Genetic sequencing for FH confirmation and cascade screening is increasingly performed clinically. Including Lp(a) genetic screening may support differential diagnoses.

Disease Risk and Conservation Implications of Orangutan Translocations.

Critically Endangered orangutans are translocated in several situations: reintroduced into historic range where no wild populations exist, released to reinforce existing wild populations, and wild-to-wild translocated to remove individuals from potentially risky situations. Translocated orangutans exposed to human diseases, including Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), pose risks to wild and previously released conspecifics. Wildlife disease risk experts recommended halting great ape translocations during the COVID-19 pandemic to minimize risk of disease transmission to wild populations. We collected data on orangutan releases and associated disease risk management in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic, and developed a problem description for orangutan disease and conservation risks. We identified that at least 15 rehabilitated ex-captive and 27 wild captured orangutans were released during the study period. Identified disease risks included several wild-to-wild translocated orangutans in direct contact or proximity to humans without protective equipment, and formerly captive rehabilitated orangutans that have had long periods of contact and potential exposure to human diseases. While translocation practitioners typically employ mitigation measures to decrease disease transmission likelihood, these measures cannot eliminate all risk, and are not consistently applied. COVID-19 and other diseases of human origin can be transmitted to orangutans, which could have catastrophic impacts on wild orangutans, other susceptible fauna, and humans should disease transmission occur. We recommend stakeholders conduct a Disease Risk Analysis for orangutan translocation, and improve pathogen surveillance and mitigation measures to decrease the likelihood of potential outbreaks. We also suggest refocusing conservation efforts on alternatives to wild-to-wild translocation including mitigating human-orangutan interactions, enforcing laws and protecting orangutan habitats to conserve orangutans in situ.

Disease risk analysis for schizophrenia patients by an automatic AHP framework

BackgroundBased on more than 15 million follow-up records of 404,426 patients from Guangdong Mental Health Center over the past 10 years, this study aims to propose a disease risk analysis and prediction model to support chronic disease management and clinical research for schizophrenia patients.MethodsBased on a mental health information and intelligent data processing platform, we design an automatic AHP framework called AutoAHP to analyze and predict the disease risks of schizophrenia patients. Through automatic extraction, transformation and integration of follow-up data in the real world such as demography, treatment, and the disease course, a chronic database of patient status is established. In combination with age-period-cohort, logistic regression and Cox models, we apply the AutoAHP to assess disease risk and implement risk prediction in practice.ResultsA list of essential factors for risk prediction are identified, including annual changes in mental health policy, public support, regional difference, patient gender, compliance, and social function. After the verification of 1,222,038 complete disease course and treatment records of 256,050 patients, the AutoAHP framework achieves a precision of 0.923, a recall of 0.924, and a F1 of 0.923. The model is demonstrated to be superior to general models and has better performance in risk prediction.ConclusionsAiming at the risk assessment of patients with schizophrenia which is influenced by factors, such as time, region and complication, the AutoAHP framework is able to be applied as a model in combination with logistic regression and Cox models to support clinical analysis of disease risk related factors and assist decision-making in chronic disease management.

Clinical approach to colic and collapse in an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) withSalmonellasaintpaul septicaemia and subsequent ileus

AbstractAn adult female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) presented with clinical signs of colic unresponsive to analgesia, which progressed to hypothermia and collapse within 48 hours. Repeated sedations using butorphanol and detomidine were performed for initial diagnostic sampling, first aid and subsequent treatment. Initial haematology showed evidence of septicaemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation; urine analysis was consistent with metabolic acidosis. The initial treatment focused on rectal administration of enrofloxacin, metronidazole and fluids. By Day 7, the immune system was recovering as demonstrated by blood parameters but ileus had developed. Sedation interventions were discontinued and treatment consisted of oral ranitidine, fibre provision and rehydration.Salmonellasaintpaul was cultured from the faeces and a disease risk analysis identified a possible infection route through food contamination. Serial haematology provided direction in clinical decision making throughout this challenging case.

Identification of adverse disease agents and risk analysis using frequent pattern mining

Life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, and hepatitis have become crucial problems for humanity. The risk of mortality can be deflated by early detection of symptoms and providing the best possible diagnosis. This critical role of detection and/or diagnosis can be enhanced using one of the techniques used in data mining, such as periodic pattern mining, association rule mining, classification. Analyzing the commonly occurring possible patterns or signs followed by performing the correlation analysis among those patterns can be exhaustively practiced for early detection and improve the diagnosis. Towards the adoption of association rule mining, devising a cost-effective and time-saving algorithm for mining frequent patterns plays an important role. In this paper, we propose an approach to pattern mining called Improved Frequent Pattern Growth (Improved FP-Growth). Firstly, it constructs an improvised frequent pattern tree data structure called Improved FP-tree. Moreover, Improved FP-Growth introduces a construction of conditional FP-tree data structure layout called Improved Conditional Frequent Pattern Tree (Improved Conditional FP-Tree). Unlike the traditional FP-Growth method, it uses both top-down and bottom-up approaches to efficiently generate frequent patterns without recursively constructing the improved conditional FP-tree. The experimental results emphasize the significance of the proposed Improved FP-Growth algorithm over a few traditional frequent itemset mining algorithms those adopt the approach of recursive conditional FP-tree construction.

Role of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Real-Life Clinical Practice: Systematic Review.

BackgroundArtificial intelligence (AI) applications are growing at an unprecedented pace in health care, including disease diagnosis, triage or screening, risk analysis, surgical operations, and so forth. Despite a great deal of research in the development and validation of health care AI, only few applications have been actually implemented at the frontlines of clinical practice.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to systematically review AI applications that have been implemented in real-life clinical practice.MethodsWe conducted a literature search in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, and CINAHL to identify relevant articles published between January 2010 and May 2020. We also hand searched premier computer science journals and conferences as well as registered clinical trials. Studies were included if they reported AI applications that had been implemented in real-world clinical settings.ResultsWe identified 51 relevant studies that reported the implementation and evaluation of AI applications in clinical practice, of which 13 adopted a randomized controlled trial design and eight adopted an experimental design. The AI applications targeted various clinical tasks, such as screening or triage (n=16), disease diagnosis (n=16), risk analysis (n=14), and treatment (n=7). The most commonly addressed diseases and conditions were sepsis (n=6), breast cancer (n=5), diabetic retinopathy (n=4), and polyp and adenoma (n=4). Regarding the evaluation outcomes, we found that 26 studies examined the performance of AI applications in clinical settings, 33 studies examined the effect of AI applications on clinician outcomes, 14 studies examined the effect on patient outcomes, and one study examined the economic impact associated with AI implementation.ConclusionsThis review indicates that research on the clinical implementation of AI applications is still at an early stage despite the great potential. More research needs to assess the benefits and challenges associated with clinical AI applications through a more rigorous methodology.

The risk from SARS-CoV-2 to bat species in england and mitigation options for conservation field workers.

The newly evolved coronavirus, SARS‐CoV‐2, which has precipitated a global COVID‐19 pandemic among the human population, has been shown to be associated with disease in captive wild animals. Bats (Chiroptera) have been shown to be susceptible to experimental infection and therefore may be at risk from disease when in contact with infected people. Numerous conservation fieldwork activities are undertaken across the United Kingdom bringing potentially infected people into close proximity with bats. In this study, we analysed the risks of disease from SARS‐CoV‐2 to free‐living bat species in England through fieldworkers undertaking conservation activities and ecological survey work, using a qualitative, transparent method devised for assessing threats of disease to free‐living wild animals. The probability of exposure of bats to SARS‐CoV‐2 through fieldwork activities was estimated to range from negligible to high, depending on the proximity between bats and people during the activity. The likelihood of infection after exposure was estimated to be high and the probability of dissemination of the virus through bat populations medium. The likelihood of clinical disease occurring in infected bats was low, and therefore, the ecological, economic and environmental consequences were predicted to be low. The overall risk estimation was low, and therefore, mitigation measures are advisable. There is uncertainty in the pathogenicity of SARS‐CoV‐2 in bats and therefore in the risk estimation. Disease risk management measures are suggested, including the use of personal protective equipment, good hand hygiene and following the existing government advice. The disease risk analysis should be updated as information on the epidemiology of SARS‐CoV‐2 and related viruses in bats improves. The re‐analysis may be informed by health surveillance of free‐living bats.